Public Relations Manager

POSITION PURPOSE

The Public Relations Manager is an integral member of Local First Arizona’s Marketing Communications team, developing, managing, executing and maintaining the organization’s integrated communications strategy in partnership with the Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy. The Public Relations Manager will lead brand, program and initiative, and consumer media relations, working closely with key internal and external stakeholders.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Public Relations Manager uses integrated communications and media relations to highlight the diverse work of Local First Arizona and its business coalition members to improve brand awareness, recognition, loyalty and support. Key responsibilities include establishing and maintaining relationships with local and national media; managing and leading Local First’s media outreach; identifying key messages based on brand, program and event goals and target audiences; monitoring and analyzing news-making trends; and the production of internal and external content such as press releases, media pitches, op-eds, bylined articles, talking points, advocacy call-to-actions and quotes from Local First’s leadership team. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience and enthusiasm for securing earned media coverage on economic development, business news and consumer interests in rural, suburban and urban markets across Arizona and is strategic, proactive, action-oriented and driven to succeed.

Strategy & Planning

• Builds and maintains excellent relationships with local print, broadcast, radio and digital media to reach Local First’s target audiences.
• Provide communications counsel and guidance, in line with the strategic plan, to internal teams, building strong relationships across the organization.
• Help maintain brand narrative and key messaging documents to ensure consistent core communications across the organization and to external audiences.
• Serves as the day-to-day media contact for B2C and B2B media contacts across diverse industries aligning with Local First Arizona’s mission and work areas.
• Negotiate and manage ongoing media partnerships on behalf of Local First Arizona, its annual events and campaigns.
• Anticipate and help to mitigate potential issues and crisis communications.
• Manage the media relations strategy and pitch calendar within Local First Arizona’s project management tool (Wrike).
• Demonstrate measurable results that are aligned with Local First Arizona’s strategic plan.
• Prepare and regularly distribute reports on the overarching media relations strategy and ROI to the leadership and project teams.

Brand Awareness & Consumer Media Relations

• Stay abreast of current news and trends and proactively pursue opportunities to position Local First Arizona, its staff, business coalition members and Legacy Partners as area experts.
• In coordination with the editorial calendar, develop press releases or media pitches securing at least quarterly coverage of seasonal topics, elevating consumer interest in the buy local movement and business coalition members.
• Support signature events and campaigns with media outreach generating consumer engagement and participation.
• Transform learnings and data into creative pitches securing local and regional media coverage building widespread consumer interest in Local First, its business coalition members and the buy local movement.

Economic Development & Business Media Relations

• Develop press releases and media pitches securing at least quarterly coverage of Local First as a leader in equitable economic and community development in coordination with editorial calendar.
• In compliance with awarded grants, manage editorial calendar, content creation and distribution that drives significant traffic to relevant pages on brand websites.
• Support signature events, business education programs and strategic initiatives with media outreach driving business registrations and engagement.
• Transform learnings and data into compelling pitches that resonate with Tier 1 media outlets, securing op-eds, bylined articles and national media coverage fortifying Local First as a leader in equitable economic and community development.
• Secure pass-through media opportunities and deals for Local First business coalition members.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, journalism or related area.
• At least seven (7) years job-related experience managing strategic integrated communications and media relations.
• Three (3) years of agency experience preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Proven track record of planning, executing and measuring successful PR programs.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• A creative thinker with a developed understanding of the need to tailor messaging to diverse audiences.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tell stories that bring Local First Arizona’s mission to life.
• Writes and edits according to AP Style.
• Creates, copy edits and/or proofreads content to established brand standards
• Effectively communicating orally in both one-on-one and group settings.
• Creative, collaborative and highly organized in your approach to identifying opportunities and solving problems.
• Experience providing senior-level counsel.
• Scrappy. You're a proactive self-starter with the ability to effectively manage several projects at once, prioritize responsibilities and work in high-pressure situations.
• Business acumen and ability to embrace and enjoy change.
• Passion for a variety of industries, including but not limited to business support and development, environmental action, food access, rural development and Tribal community engagement.
• Ability and proven success working autonomously and within a close team environment.
• Ability to understand strategic business goals and able to identify ways to use integrated communications to achieve those goals.
• Good perspective and/or appreciation of the history of Arizona
• Proficient in Active Listening
• Strong attention to detail and highly organized
• Ability to effectively coordinate multiple projects at a time while meeting a variety of deadlines
• Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Suite,
• Willingness to adjust hours to accommodate the needs of the job
• Willing to travel occasionally.

Job Type: Full-time (40 hours)

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $49,653.85 - $59,798.19 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $49,654 - $59,798